Little Seeds Montessori

Inspection of Little Seeds Montessori Baptist Church, High Street, Bovingdon, Hemel Hempstead HP3 0HG

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Children are happy and highly engaged in this calm and enticing pre-school. They benefit from exceptional quality interactions with staff. Children show that they feel safe and secure as they immerse themselves in activities. For example, children show high levels of fascination and intrigue as they learn about the solar system. Staff ask them thought-provoking questions to develop children's thinking skills, such as, 'What would happen if you lived on the sun?' Children have a wide range of resources to choose from. They show high levels of respect and care for their pre-school and the resources they use. Staff expertly break down instructions so that children have a level of challenge that is matched precisely to their stage of development. For example, children learn to find a cleaning cloth and spray bottle to wipe away their mess. They then dry the table after it is clean. Older children show how well they have learned these routines as they carry out these tasks

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The provision is outstanding

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They are beautifully guided by the kind and caring staff who help children regulate their behaviour, share and take turns. Children act with integrity. For example, without being asked, children pick up other's water bottles that fall off the table and return them to their owners. Children automatically say 'thank you' in response.

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need to do better?

n The manager implements a sequential curriculum, tailored to children's individual needs and development. Staff understand and implement the Montessori approach well. The activities and resources complement and support the early years foundation stage, providing experiences and learning through all areas of learning. Staff have in-depth knowledge and understanding of the children they care for. As a result, children make outstanding progress with this progressive curriculum. n Parents recognise the impact this pre-school has on their children's developmental progress. They say their children's 'gross motor skills have come on leaps and bounds' and they now have 'huge confidence' when using challenging equipment at the park. The key-worker system is highly effective in ensuring that parents are kept informed of their children's learning, developmental next steps and daily routines. n Partnerships are effective in ensuring children's progress is monitored

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need to do better?

holistically. Staff share regular assessments of children's development with parents. The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) has formed positive working relationships with external agencies and the local authority SENCo. As a result, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make continued positive progress.

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need to do better?

25 May 2023 n Children are confident to express themselves and use their wide vocabulary to do so. Staff constantly expose children to new words as they play and explore books. For example, as they turn the pages of a book about the human body, staff explain that 'lungs fill up when you breathe' and 'blood travels around the body'. Children develop a love for books, which they independently access and share with friends. When children are tired, they snuggle into comfy chairs in the 'peace corner' and look through books. n Mathematics is taught in an exemplary way. Staff explain that children learn simple mathematical concepts through concrete experiences, such as making models. Children are then supported to learn abstract concepts, such as large quantities. For example, children demonstrate excellent number knowledge as they talk about the number of tens, hundreds and thousands they have as they role play 'banks' with staff.

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need to do better?

n Children have regular opportunities to learn and practise physical skills. For example, when hungry, children use knives to skilfully chop up fruit and vegetables to eat. Once finished, they wash up their plates and cutlery. Outdoors, they engage in play that supports their gross motor skills, such as weaving between obstacles when riding on bikes and scooters. Children enjoy mark making as they use chalks and paints to draw large pictures. As a result, children develop excellent physical control and coordination. n The manager's passion for providing high-quality care and education is infectious. Her calm and gentle nature is reflected through the staff's practice. This creates a highly effective team, where staff report positive well-being and satisfaction in their role.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff attend training to keep themselves up to date with procedures to protect children. They have secure knowledge on how to identify and report any safeguarding concerns they may. This includes wider safeguarding issues such as child exploitation. Staff consistently promote rules that keep children safe. As a result, children show visible understanding of how to use equipment safely. These experiences teach children about measuring and managing risk. Staff complete regular training to ensure they remain suitable for their roles such as first aid, safeguarding and food hygiene training. Staff are vigilant to ensure the premises and spaces children access are risk assessed and checked daily to remain safe and secure.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2617561 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10285484 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person De Mink, Angie

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reference number

Telephone number 07955691721 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Seeds Montessori registered in 2021. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff, five of which hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including two who have early years qualifications at level 6. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions are from 8am until 3.30pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the pre-school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provision. n The manager, who is also the provider, took the inspector on a learning walk to discuss all areas of the provision and explained their early years curriculum. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a mathematical activity with the manager. n The inspector held meetings as appropriate with the manager and staff. She spoke with children during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with parents and took account of their views of the provision. n Examples of relevant documents were sampled and reviewed by the inspector. She checked evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

25 May 2023 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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